Automatic mail-bag catcher.



No. 717,999. PATENTED JAN. 6, 19-03.

G. A. HUGHES. AUTOMATIO MAIL BAG OATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L U U U H m: cums Pncns 00.. PHaTo-uma. wnsummou. n. c.

No. 717,999. PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.

' G. A. HUGHES. AUTOMATIC MAIL BAG GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE ANDREW HUGHES, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,999. dated January 6, 1 903.-

I Application filed FQbrnary ZO, 1902. Serial No. 94,964. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ANDREW HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Automatic Mail-Bag Catcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in devices for catching and delivering mailbags, and has for its principal object to provide an improved form of platform-catcher into which the bags may be safely delivered from trains traveling at any speed.

A further object of the invention is to so construct a catcher and its supporting devices as to permitof the reversal of the position of the catcher .in order that mail may be delivered to it from trains traveling in either direction.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the receiver or catcher as to effect the movement of the receiver from operative position when a bag is delivered and to automatically lock the receiver in such position as to prevent the accidental discharge of the bag.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide the mail-car with an improved form of mechanism for catching a bag from a plat form-support and with mechanism for delivering a bag to the platform-catcher.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the aocom pan ying drawlugs, and particularly pointed out in the ap pended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mail-bag receiving and deliverin g apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the platform catcher, illustrating in dotted line the position assumed by the parts immediately after a bag has been delivered. Fig. 3 is an elevation illustrating a detail of construction of the support for the catching-receptacle. Fig. 4: is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the mechanism for looking the catcher-supporting frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a slightlymodified formof catcher.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

On the station-platform or at other suitable point bythe side of the railway-track is placed a post or standard 5,'having at its upper end a bracket '6, in which is pivoted an arm 7, counterweighted at 8 in order that it may normally assume the inoperative position illustrated by dotted linesin Fig. 1. At the outer end of the arm '7 is a depending T- shaped hook 9, on which may be hung the local mail-bag to be delivered to the train.

The apparatus is designed for use in connection with mail-bags of the class in ordinary nse, such bags being provided at each end with a ring or loop 10 for convenience in supporting theni'on the platform apparatus but in order to reduce the risk of injury to i the bag and prevent the tearing out of the bag-rings I provide each bag with a pair of chains 11 and 12, the chain 11 beingof alength sufficient to extend from end to end of the bag and having at each end a ring 13 and a hook '14, the hooks engaging with the mailbag rings, and the ring 13, or one of them, serving as a means of supporting the bag in position on the hook of the platform apparatus. The shorter chain 12 is provided with end hooks which may be engaged with each other or with links of either of the chains, such shorter chain passing around the centralportion of the bag at a point Where the bag is caught by the traveling catcher and serving to reduce the diameter of the bag at this point and at the same time serving as a guard to prevent in a measure injurious contact between the bag and catcher. When the bag is to be delivered from the train, the chains are arranged in a slightly-different manner, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

Extending across the doorway of the car is the usual guiding and supporting bar 15, on which is pivotally mounted a catching-hook 16, the inner end of which is connected to a link 17, having at one end a hook or catch, which may be engaged in a suitable holding device to effect the locking of the catcherhook in position for catching the bag from the station apparatus.

The hook 16 is of a size will yield as the bag enters the hook and will then close the dogs against the bag and serve to properly retain the same in place. A plurality of locking-dogs are used, so that in the event of the catching of a bag only partially filled the innermost dog may engage with the bag. For a larger bag both of the dogs may be employed, or there may be a greater numher than two, and, if necessary, such dogs may be placed on both sides of the hook.

At a suitable point on the side of the car is secured a rod or bracket 19, on which is pivotally mounted an arm 20, having at its outer end a rearwardly-projecting finger 21, on which is hung the mail-bag to be delivered to the platform apparatus, said finger having an upwardly-bent spring, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to prevent the premature discharge of the bag when the train is traveling at high speed, or as an auxiliary support or fastening the bags may be tied on the finger, as also on the hook of the platform apparatus, by a cord or twine, which will readily break when the bag is caught by the receiving devices. The arm 20 has a downwardly-bent portion 22, which rests against the side of the car and serves to support the arm in operative position, the portion 22 being comparatively short, so that it will not project too far from the side of the car when the arm is thrown up to the inoperative position, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) this being the normal position in traveling between stations.

In hanging a bag on the finger 21 the longer chain 11 is passed around the length of the bag, its ends being hooked together in such manner as to hold the bag in folded or doubled position, as shown, the two rings of the mail-bag being uppermost. The ends of the shorter chain are then passed through the mail-bag rings, and the hooks at the ends of such short chain are engaged in links in the longer chain. The bight of the shorter chain then forms a loop by which the bag may be supported in position on the delivery-finger.

The platform-catcher is in the form of a wire basket 25, having at each side an inclined or V-shaped opening 26, into which the end of the delivery-arm 2O partly enters in the delivery of a bag. The openings 26 are arranged somewhat above the central line of the basket in order to afford a better support for the bag, as well as to admit of the proper delivery of the bag within the basket, or in some cases, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the open ings maybe formed in the top of the basket. The basket is supported by a frame comprising a series of arms pivoted to each other and to the post or standard 5. porting-arms 28 are pivoted to the post and thence extend outwardly at points above and below the basket 25, the ends of said arms being then bent toward each other and forming pivot-pins 29, adapted to sockets or eyes 30 in the top and bottom of the basket and on which said basket may freely turn, movement in an outward direction being limited by a chain 30,

The main sup-e secured at one end to one of the arms 28 and at the opposite ends having a hook for engagement with an eye 31 on the basket. The end of one of the arms 28 is curved around the inside of the basket and extends across the opening 26 for engagement with the outer end of the arm 20 or the finger 21 in order to positively remove the mail-bag and to prevent the catching of the arm 20 at the end of the opening. To the post 5 are also pivoted a pair of arms 32, which normally are disposed at about a right angle to the arms 28 and which may be moved to the position illustrated in the drawings or to a position at a similar angle on the opposite side of the post when the receiver is reversed for the catching of bags from trains traveling in the opposite direction. In the ends of the arms 32 are pivot-eyes 33 for the reception of the vertically-bent end portions of a pair of bars 35, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to the rear end of the basket. The frame thus formed is approximately triangular in form, but the pivotal connections are such that the basket may swing inwardly until its longitudinal axis is coincident with or in the plane of the arm 28, Fig. 2 representing in dotted lines the first stage of this movement. The basket and frame are held in the operative position (illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2) by a catch 38, pivoted at one end to the base or platform or to a suitable block 39, carried by the post and adapted to engage against the rear face of one of the arms 32, thus looking the frame members rigidly together, while any excessive swinging movement is checked by a catch 41, carried by the lower of the arms 32 and engaging with the rear face of the catch. The catch is normally held in the operative position (indicated to the left of Fig. 2) by the enlarged head 43 of a laterally-swinging arm 44, which is pivoted intermediate of its length to a pin 45 on the under side of the block 39. On the outer side of the block, or that face nearest the railway-track, is pivoted a lever 46, one end of which is connected by a link 47 to the outer end of the arm 45, and the upper end of said lever 46 projects above the surface of the block in the path of movement of the lowermost of the arms 28, but normally at some little distance to the rear of said arms, as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 2. On the upper arm 35 is pivoted a block 50, to which is pivoted a spring-pressed hook-bar 51, having at its outer end two or more bills 52, which are adapted to engage with the edge of the basket as the latter is swung on its pivots, two or more hooks being preferably employed in order to insure the catching and holding of the basket in whatever position it may be moved by the shock resulting from the delivery of a mail-bag, the basket assuming different positions and being moved to diiterent distances in accordance with the speed of travel of the train.

When the parts are in the position illustrated, with a mail-bag hung on the finger 21,

the end of the arm 20 will enter slightly within the slot of the basket, but will not come into actual contact with the walls of the slot,

owing to the curvature of the basket, although the end of the arm will make contact with the end of the arm 29 within said basket, said arm being preferably formed of spring metal or being movable and held by a suitable spring, so as to prevent injury to either of the parts coming into contact. is removed from the finger 21 and is deposited in the basket, the shock incident to the impact of the bag tending to force the supporting-frame against the stop 38. As this movement is on the part of the bar 32 resisted by the stop, the movement which occurs is such as to cause the parts to assume the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the arms 28 swinging on the post and the arms 35 moving with the end pins in the eyes 33 as a center, causing an inward movement of the basket, and the edge of said basket being caught and held by one or other of the hooks 52. The movementillustratedin dotted lines is the initial movement, the completion of which forces the lowermost of the arms into contact with the upper end of the lever 46, the latter through the connecting-link 47 causing a lateral movement of the arm 44 and removing the supporting-head 43 from under the end of the stop 38, the latter falling from its position in contact with the arm 32 and permitting the frame as a whole to rotate freely on the post 5 as a center, but the mailbag being held from accidental displacement by the engagement of the hook or hooks 52 with edge of the basket.

The device as thus far described is operable in connection with trains moving in but one direction, and in order to reverse its position and to enable it to be used in connection with trains traveling in the opposite direction an additional set of locking devices 38 and 46 are placed on the block on the opposite side of the post, and the bars 35 are connected by a pair of links 50, having their ends pivoted to a suitable lever 51, which may be turned to cause the arms to separate and remove their vertical ends from the eyes or sockets 33. When the arms 35 have been disengaged, they are swung, together with the basket, to a position on the opposite side of the arms 28, and the arms 32 are likewise moved to a corresponding position on the opposite side of the post, after which the locking-lever 51 is moved to rengage the ends of the arms 35 in the pivot-eyes 33, the two arms being locked in position by a suitable catch 52, carried by the operating-lever 51. To effect this movement, the chain 30 is of course detached, and when the basket is reversed its end hook is connected to the eye 31 at the opposite side of said basket. In similar manner the hookbar 51 is reversed, being swung over on the fulcrumed bracket 50.

In some cases the opening in the receiving- The mail-bagbasket may be made at the top of said basket, as indicated in Fig. 5, and in such case it will not be absolutely necessary for the end of the arm 20 to enter the basket-opening.

While the construction herein described is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions,

size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. A mail-bag catchercomprising a pivotally-mounted support, a reversible receptacle pivotally mounted thereon, means for locking said support in operative position, and mechanism operable by the delivery of the bag for first unlocking said support and then moving both the support and receptacle to inopera:

tive position; I

2. A mail-bag catcher comprising a series of pivotally-connected arms, a reversible receptacle pivotally mounted thereon, and

mechanism for automatically moving the receptacle to inoperative position after the delivery of a bag.

3. A mail-bag catcher comprising a series' of pivotally-connected arms forming a support, a reversible basket pivotally mounted on said arms, means for locking the arms when the basket is in position to receive a bag, and

means for automatically unlocking said arms and for moving the basket to inoperative position on the delivery of a bag.

4:. A mail-bag catcher comprising a reversible receptacle, a reversible pivoted supporting-frame therefor, means for locking said framein operative position, and means forautomatically releasing the frame on the delivery of a bag to the receptacle. 1

5. A mail-bag catcher comprising a pivote frame having a plurality of arms, a basket having a plurality of pivotal connections with said arms, means for locking the frame with the basket in operative position, and means for automatically releasing the frame and for causing an inward movement of the basket prior to the releasing operation, on the delivery of a mail-bag to the basket.

6. A mail-bag catcher comprising a basket, a frame formed of a series of pivotally-connected arms, said frame being pivoted to the basket and to a fixed support, means for looking the frame in operable position, means for automatically releasing said .frame on the delivery of a mail-bag, and a catch carried by said frame for engagement with the basket, substantially as specified.

7. A mail-bag catcher comprising a basket having a slot or opening in one wall, a pair of arms pivotally connected to said basket, a

frame and the basket, a locking-catch for engagement with said secondary frame, a releasing-lever disposed in the path of movement of the basket-supporting arms, and a locking catch or hook carried by the connecting-arms and adapted to engage said basket.

8. A mail-bag catcher comprising a basket, a pair of supporting-arms pivotally connected to said basket, a supporting-post to which the opposite ends of said arms are pivotally connected, a secondary frame also pivoted to the post, a pair of arms pivotally connecting the secondary frame and the basket, means for separating the secondary frame and the connecting-arms, aloeking-catch for engagement with the secondary frame, a releasing-lever arranged in the path of movement of the basket-supporting arms, a locking catch or hook carried by one of the connecting-arms and adapted to engage with the edge of the basket, and a flexible connection between the edge of the basket and the supporting-arms to prevent excessive outward movement of said basket.

9. A mail-bag catcher comprising a pair of pivotally-mounted basket-supporting arms, a reversible basket pivoted to said arms, and means for holding and locking said basket in position for catching a bag from trains traveling in either direction.

10. A mail-bag catcher comprising a pivoted basket having slotted edges to permit the partial entrance of a mail-bag support, and means for supporting and locking said basket.

11. A mail-catcher comprisinga reversible basket, having openings in its opposite sides to permit the partial entrance of a mail-bag support in either position of the basket and means for supporting and locking said basket in operative position.

12. A mail-bag catcher comprising a reversible basket, supporting-arms to which said basket is pivotally connected, and reversible auxiliary arms for holding said basket in adjusted position.

13. A mail-bag catcher comprising a supportingpost, a base, lockingcatches and catch-releasing levers arranged on opposite sides of the base, a pair of basket-supporting arms pivotally mounted on said post, a secondary frame also pivotally mounted on the post, a reversible basket, and auxiliary bars or arms pivotally connecting the basket to the secondary frame, and means for connecting and disconnecting said connecting-arms and secondary frame.

14:. A mail-bag catcher comprising a pair of pivoted basket-supporting arms, a reversible basket pivotally mounted therein, auxiliary basket-holding arms connected to and reversible with the basket, and a reversible hook carried by said arms and adapted to engage with either side of the basket.

15. A mail-bag catcher comprising in combination, a post, a pair of supporting-arms pivoted thereto, a basket pivotally connected to said arms, a secondary frame pivoted to said post, a pair of connecting-arms pivoted to the basket and detachably connected to the secondary frame, a reversible hook carried by the connecting-arms, a holding-chain extending from the supporting-arms and detachably connected to the basket, a lockingcatch 38 adapted for engagement with the secondary frame, an operating-lever 46 disposed in the path of movement of one of the supporting-arms, a catch-supporting arm 4st pivoted intermediate of its length, and a link connecting the operating-lever and the catchsupporting arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ANDREW HUGHES.

Witnesses:

CARL FREID, E. E. GULVER. 

